Disclaimer:I do not own the outsiders, S.E. Hinton is the almighty one.

Well hello thar, if you're reading this you're obviously reading my story which makes you automatically awesome. I'd appreciate reviews which, by the way, is another way to achieve automatic awesomeness. Also my editor has ditched me for the time being due to a severe case of lazyassalitis, may we all wish her to be on the road to recovery soon, so if there are any mistakes... Blame her. Hope you enjoy the story ;) Also here are the ages of everyone in this fic, (Johnny and Dally are alive in this one because I said so, if you really want an explanation read Broken, another one of my stories....)

Pony- Just turned 15

Johnny- Just turned 17

Steve-18

Soda- 18

Dally-18

Two-Bit-19

Darry-22

Ponyboy's POV

Sweat dripped down my forehead and I leaned forward, placing one hand on the fence and one on my knee, panting to catch my breath. I had come home from school today to discover that no one was home and decided to take a run, I hadn't been that long, 20 minutes maybe 30 and by the looks of it no one was home still. Giving myself another moment to catch my breath, I reached into our mail box, then proceeded to walk up our porch steps with the bundle of envelopes in hand. I kicked off my old runners and sprawled myself out over the couch. I lazily I flipped through the mail, tossing each envelope on to the small side table beside the couch, allowing them to grow into a pile. Bills, bills, bills, state, more bills. I suddenly sat up, coming face to face with a very official looking envelope addressed to Soda. I slithered stealthily across the room and peaked through the window, seeing no one coming up to the house I went and sat down on the floor in front of the couch, leaning back against the couch's old frame I slid my thumb under the envelope flap, ever so carefully wiggling my thumb back and forth, slowly until the flap opened. I was scared to reach in and grab the what ever was inside but, I did anyways, and found myself holding a letter that would change my life forever.

Mr. Sodapop Patrick Curtis,

We write to inform you that as your duty to serve your country as a citizen of the United States Of America you are being drafted to serve in the Vietnam war. Please report for duty on May 30th.

My breath caught in my throat. No. Not Soda, I- I can't live without him! May 30th, that's only 3 days away, that's this Monday. I might only have 3 days left with Soda, he could die there. War, it's no place for someone like Soda, I'd seen a couple greaser around who'd come back from the war, they always seemed so devastated. I got up and ran to Soda and I's room, bending down I reached for my hidden place, where I kept all the stuff I didn't want my brothers to find. I grabbed the lose floor board and lifted it up, I placed the letter and envelope on top of a bottle of aspirin, and a couple of old magazines that weren't exactly PG13 if you know what I mean.... Slamming the board back in place. I Put my head in my hands, what was going to do. I began crying, when suddenly the front door slammed and I heard the clammer of feet. Suddenly someone was in the door of the bedroom.

"Hey Pony, wait, are you crying!?" Two-Bits voice sounded from the entrance. His voice was mixed with laughter but, that last thing I wanted right now was to laugh.

"No, I ain't crying, just got something in my eye is all," I muttered quickly scrambling to my feet and pushing past him, making a mad dash to the bathroom, hoping no one else would ask the same question. I slammed the door and locked it, wasting no time I went to the sink and turned on the water, splashing myself with it. I looked into the mirror. That's when the idea came to me, everyone said Soda and I looked really alike only he had blond hair and I had reddish brown... Peroxide, that's what I needed, if I was blond, maybe, just maybe, I Soda and take his place. What was I waiting for! I burst out of the bathroom and ran into my bedroom, finding a little bit of money in the night-table I shoved the money into my pockets, and grabbing a jacket, I dashed off to the living room where the whole gang was now sitting watching TV and playing cards.

"What's your rush Ponyboy, where are you going?" Darry asked, a curious frown playing across his face.

"I've got to the store," I practically screamed in his face as I shoved my shoes on. "BYE!" I screamed before running out the door at top speed, not even bothering to close the door after myself.

I slowly opened the door to our house, the peroxide felt heavy in my jacket pocket. I had decided when home from the store that I would use it tomorrow morning, so I could sit in the sun for awhile to let it dry.

"Hey Pony, did ya enjoy your trip to the store," Two-Bit questioned, raising his eyebrow inquiringly at me. I looked down at the floor.

"Yes how was it, and would you mind explaining your sudden rush to get there to me?" Darry spoke up.

"Sorry, I, er, had sudden urge to go to store?" My explanation came out sounding more like a guess. Dally who wearing an amused expression spoke next.

"Steal anything good?"

"No." I said flopping down on the floor beside Johnny. Steve dealt me into the card game and I spent the rest of the night like any other friday.

Seeing it was a Saturday morning and both Darry and Soda had today off of work, everyone slept in. The whole gang had crashed at our placed the night before, and now from where I sat outside, waiting for the peroxide to dry in the sun, I heard the morning bustle as our house came alive.

"Pony! Ponyboy! Where the heck is Ponyboy?" Soda called out from inside the house.

"Outside I think," Johnny said.

"Thanks JohnnyCakes," Soda stuck his head out the window, "Hey Ponyboy, time for breakfa-" I think when he saw my hair because he almost fell out the window, then regaining his balance shut the window. Seconds later he was out on the porch, leaning over the railing he confirmed what he had seen before and this time fell right over the railing. Picking himself up he stared at me in awe as I got up from the grass and strolled over to him. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO!" He looked so shocked I wished I had a camera to capture his expression. The rest of the gang had by now came out of the house to see what the shouting was about and now Darry was having a spasim attack on our porch.

"I, erm, felt like it." I simply said, walking past all of them and into the house, when I reached the bathroom I examined myself in the mirror, my hair was was lighter than Soda's but, I looked pretty similar, I just hope this will work.

Okay, so there you go, the first chapter to this story, Please review!